Register setting device



Jan. 25, 1944. w. 1. HANSON ETAL REGISTER sE'rTiNe DEVICE Filed March 14', 1942 Patented Jan. 25, 1944 rric ancrsrrn ss'rrmc nEvrcE Walter J. Hanson, Port Chester, N. Y., and Frederick W. Heyel, East Port Chester, Conrn, assignors to Pitncy-Bowes Postage Meter 00., Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application March 14, 1942, Serial No. 434,678

6 Claims. (Cl. 235-132) This invention relates to register setting mechanism particularly adapted for use with meter units of metered mailing machines.

In a metered mailing machine a meter unit includes printing mechanism for the printing of value stamp impressions upon letters, and further includes registering mechanism for the purpose of registering the cumulative value of each impression made. Said registering mechanism is usually provided in bothan ascending and a descending order, and the mechanism of descending order is provided with means whereby the same may be locked out when the register unit descends to a value which is less than the'maxlmum value adapted to be printed. The descending register is also adapted to be set by an authorized postal agent to the value of stamps it is desired to purchase.

In the setting of a value, it is the common practice for the agent to break a seal and open a door immediately over the descending register, .then by means of a stylus, the figure wheels of the register will be adjusted to agree with the additional value for which payment is made. After completing the setting, the door is shut and resealed.

In the present invention, means is provided whereby the agent may insert a key in an appropriate lock, the unlocking of which will effect the release of a register setting knob, which knob will be spring urged from a normally inaccessible position to an accessible position outside of one wall of the casing surrounding the meter unit. Upon rotation of the knob by the agent, the wheel of highest denomination will be adjusted to agree with the value of the purchase it is'desired to make. After having completed the setting, the knob is depressed and the mechanism is relocked by means of the key.

It is the principal object of this invention therefore, to provide in resettable registering mechanism, means whereby setting mechanism may be released from a normally inaccessible position and urged to an accessible position outside the meter, after entry is made through a key operated lock by an authorized agent.

ment of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being un-- derstood that various changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention. 1

A preferred embodiment of the invention is i llustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary detail view showing a part of a meter casing with-parts of the wall broken away, and showing the location of an ascending and a descending register, also the means for efiecting resetting of the descending register;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing a, portion of the mechanism of Fig. 1 in plan;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the register control mechanism taken substantially along the line Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail plan view of a' portion of the descending register, with the reg- It is a further object to provide means whereby the release of theregister setting mechanism will, during the outward thrust of said mechanism, effect a driving connection with the register wheel of highest order and release said wheel from driving relation with the wheel'of lower order.

With the above andotherobjects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangeister resetting knob in a resetting position outside of one wall of the casing of the meter unit.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a. registering unit indicated generally at w is confined within a casing ii beneath a window i2. Said registering mechanism. comprises as ascending register l3 and a descending register i l.

During a cycle of operation, when a value stamp is printed, each of said registering mechanisms will function in an ascending or descending order to add or subtract each value respectively. The ascending register will continue to accumulate values indefinitely, but the descending re ister will function only so long as a credit within a predetermined value remains.

The operation of the descending register is limited by means of a lockout mechanism, generally indicated at I5, which comprises fingers iii-it formed at the end of a pivotal structure ll carried on a rod i8. By means of a spring 20 said fingers iii are normally urged against the periphery of the numeral wheels l9 until notches 2! in said wheels coincide therewith, whereupon the fingers enter'the notches and effect locking of the register wheels.

The mechanism as thus far described is common to most registering mechanisms of metered mailing machines.

Upon the locking out of the descending register, it becomes necessary to remove the meter to the post ofiice for resetting by an authorized agent,

in accordance with the value of the purchase it is desired to make. It is in the mechanism prov vided for the resetting of the descending register that the invention lies.

The registering mechanism indicated is of the Geneva transfer type. The figure wheel of the highest order, which in this instance is the ten dollar wheel, is indicated at 22 and is revolvably mounted with the other wheels on a shaft 23. Wheel 22 generally comprises a, shell having a webbed portion 24, a hub 25, and a gear 26 at the end of said hub. Said wheel 22 is also adapted to slide longitudinally along the shaft 7". The Geneva drive mechanism which is associated with the figure wheel 22, is indicated at 21 and forms part of a disc 28. Said disc also has a pin 29 projecting therefrom, which pin is adapted to engage one of ten holes 3! within the webbed portion 24 of the figure wheel 22 to effect the drive of the wheel by the Geneva drive during a transfer of a value from the wheel of next lower order.

The register resetting mechanism comprises a longitudinally movable rod 32 mounted in a supporting frame 33, and has a knob 35 fixed to the outer end and a pinion 35 fixed to the inner end thereof. A disc 26 fixed to the outer face of the pinion 35 projects beyond the outside diameter of the pinion.

Engaged with the inner face of the gear 35 is a stop lug 2?? which lug is bent inwardly from the end of a latch bar 38. Said latch bar 38 is guided within a slot 39 in a support plate ill and has its opposite end connected with a lock controlled lever 62. A lock 63, which may be of any suitable type, is adapted to project through an opening 44 in one wall of the casing l l, where it is accessible for operation by means of a key in the hands of an authorised agent.

As shown in Fig. 2, the lug 3'! is engaged with the inner face of the pinion 35, which pinion is held thereagainst under the tension of a spring 65, compressed between one end oi the knob 34 and one face of the support 33. During manipulation of the lock 43, the latch bar 38 is rocked to the position of Fig. 3 and the stop lug 37 is removed from the path of the pinion 35 to thus free said pinion and permit outward movement of the rod 32 under pressure of the spring 45. The stop lugwill also engage a lug 40 projecting from the lockout mechanism is to remove said mechanism from a locking position.

During the outward movement of the rod 32, the knob it will move through an opening 46, beyond the surface of the outer wall of the casing it, and the gear 35 will become meshed with the gear 26. Upon the engagement of the pinion 35 with the gear 26, the flange 36 will effect pressure on the face of the gear 26 and withdraw the figure wheel 22 to the position of Fig. 4.

The parts are now in 'position for setting a value in the wheel of highest order of the descending register and when actuated through rotation of knob 34, a value will be set up in said wheel in multiples of ten. If, after setting for example, the numeral appears directly beneath the window 02 on the numeral wheel 22 the amount to be paid to the post ofiice for such setting would be fifty dollars.

When the setting of the numeral wheel 22 has been completed, the knob 34 is pushed inward and the lock 43 readjusted to move the stop lug 31 into the path of the pinion 35.

In Fig. 2, it will be noted that after the knob 34 has been pushed in, the pinion 35 is disengaged from the gear 26, thus making it impossible to effect any adjustment of the numeral wheel 22 by rotation of the knob 34 when in this position.

It will be noted also that the knob 34 is in an inaccessible position when pushed in. If desired, a door 41 may be hinged at 48 in such manner as to conceal the knob 34 and may further be provided with a suitable locking seal 48 to further safeguard the device.

Having described the invention, What is claimed is:

1. In a meter unit including a casing therefor, register mechanism including fi ure wheels confined within said casing, means to adjust the setting of the wheel of highest order of said register from a position outside of the casing, means to normally retain the setting means in an inaccessible position and in an inoperable relation with said wheel of highest order, and key controlled locking mechanism operable to remove the retaining means from a retaining relation with the setting member, and thereby free the register setting means for movement to an accessible and operable position with relation to the register wheel of highest order.

2. In a meter unit, a casing having an opening therein, register mechanism including figure wheels confined within said casing, means to adjust the setting of the wheel of highest order of said register from a position outsideof the casing, means normally urging the setting means axially to an accessible and operative setting position with relation to the wheel of highest order, means engaging the setting means and normally blocking axial movement thereof, and key controlled locking mechanism connected with the engaging means whereby, when unlocked, the engaging means is released to move axially outward through the casing opening to an accessible and register setting position.

3. In a meter unit including a casing therefor, register mechanism including figure wheels confined within said casing, rotatable means to adjust the setting of the wheel of highest order of said register from a position outside of the easing said rotatable means having axial movement whereby, when moved inward, the rotatable means is disconnected from settable relation with the wheel of highest order, and key controlled locking means associated with the rotatable means including a latch to normally retain the rotatable means in a disconnected position with the wheel of highest order when locked.

4.. In a meter unit, a casing having an opening therein, register mechanism including figure wheels confined within said casing, means to adjust the setting of the wheel of highest order of said register mechanism from a position outside of the casing including a manual setting member normally retained in an inoperable relation with the said wheel of highest order and in an inaccessible position, key controlled locking mechanism associated with the setting means and operable to lock the manual setting member in an inoperable relation with the wheel manual setting member to an operative position with relation to the figure wheel of highest order when locked, said setting member being releasable ior movement by the spring means to an operative relation with the figure wheel of highest order when the latch mechanism is unlocked.

6. In a meter unit, a casing having an opening therein, register mechanism including figure wheels confined within said casing, a releasable connection between the wheel of highest order and adjacent wheel or lower order, means to adjust the setting or the wheel of highest order including a manual setting member normally retained in an inoperable relation with the wheel of highest order and in an inaccessible position within the opening in the casing, a pinion on said manual setting member, a gear on said w eel oi highest order, a spring urging the said ual settingrnemb'er in a direction to eflect meshing oi the gear and pinion, and a lock controlled latch normally preventing meshed engagement oi the gear and pinion when locked.

-WALTER J. HANSON.

FREDERICK W., HEYE'L. 

